Statement by Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Announcement of Transfer of Security Responsibility in Al-Muthanna Province by Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq

June 19, 2006
Japanese

On the 19th of June, Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq announced that the Iraqi forces are ready to receive the security responsibilities, and the first province that will be honored to receive its full security responsibilities will be Al-Muthanna Province, and stated that a ceremony for the occasion of transferring the security responsibilities would be held next month. Japan welcomes this decision.
Al-Muthanna Province will be the first province to be handed over to Iraqi security responsibility according to today's decision. This demonstrates that the efforts by the Multi-National Forces and the local authorities in the province have yielded concrete results. Furthermore, it also shows that, with the support of the international community including Japan, self-sustained reconstruction of Iraq under the leadership of a democratic government is proceeding. Therefore, Japan supports today's decision by the Iraqi government.
Iraq is at an extremely important juncture. The international community must continue to be committed to supporting the Iraqi government and the people's efforts toward nation building. The Government of Japan will consider in due course its future policy toward assisting Iraq, including the future state of the GSDF's humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Samawah, taking into account today's announcement by Prime Minister Maliki and other relevant factors.

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